Marie S. Jerome, 88, left this earth Friday afternoon, Oct. 31, 2008, with her daughter at her side, after a brief illness in Key West. Marie was a frequent visitor to the Florida Keys as a guest in her daughter's home for many years.
Born in Bennington, Vt., Feb. 22, 1920, Marie Dolores Harte was the second of five children of John Bernard Harte and Alice McDermott Harte, longtime residents of 217 W. Main St. She attended high school at Kenwood Academy in Albany, N.Y., graduating in 1937. She went on to receive her Bachelor of Arts in English and philosophy from Georgian Court College in Lakewood, N.J., in 1941. A master's degree in 1958 in American Literature from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., capped Marie's formal education.
Marie's 22-year marriage, from 1941 to 1963, to Commander Edward Peary Stafford, USN (Ret.) resulted in five children and a diverse spectrum of professional experiences, including management of the former Harte and General Stark theaters in Bennington from 1952 through 1954. During these two decades, she also served on the board of directors for both the Harte Realty Corp. in Bennington as well as Whittle Plywood Corp. of Chatham, Va.
After a short stint as an alumnae fund coordinator at Bennington College, 1965-66, and following a year at the University of Grenoble, in Grenoble, France, with her children, Marie accepted a position at Danville Community College, in Danville, Va. There she taught American Literature, modern poetry, creative writing and art appreciation from 1967 to 1972. In 1974, she obtained her real estate license in Fairfax, Va., where she was an agent for the next three years.
On Dec. 28, 1977, Marie married James Colgate Jerome of Bennington in Miami Beach, Fla., before resuming residence in Vermont. She and her husband, both avid golfers, were active members of the Doral Country Club in Miami and the Mount Anthony Golf Club in Bennington for over 30 years.
Marie Jerome is survived by her husband, James C. Jerome; sister, Mrs. Denise W. Derham of Danville, Va.; five children, LTC Edward P. Stafford Jr. USA (Ret.) of Atlanta, Ga., Harte P. Stafford Esq. of Bethesda, Md., Robert P. Stafford Esq. of Portland, Ore., Judge Peary (and Richard) Fowler of Key West, Fla., Dr. Gregory P. Stafford, DDS, Portland, Ore.; 10 grandchildren, including Robert P. Fowler of Key West; and one great-grandchild.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Mahar & Son Funeral Home, 628 Main St., Bennington, VT 05201. Services will be private and are expected to be held on Dec. 13, 2008, in Bennington, Vt. Contributions in lieu of flowers may be made in her name to the Florida Keys SPCA, 5230 College Road, Key West, FL 33040.
Source: THE KEY WEST CITIZEN / KEYSNEWS.COM, November 27, 2008, http://keysnews.com/node/7843
Note: Her first husband was born July 16, 1918 in Portland, Maine and died September 24, 2013 in Melbourne Beach, Florida.
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